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Federal Shutdown Could Delay Crab Fisheries
Lauren Rosenthal, KUCB – Unalaska
Fishermen are gearing up for the start of the Bering Sea’s lucrative crab season. But they may be off to a late start this year, because of the federal government shutdown.
Group Inadvertently Deals With Federal Under-Reach
Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau
When the Citizens Advisory Commission on Federal Areas last met, the theme was overreach from Washington. But this go round, it seems the group is inadvertently dealing with federal under-reach. Because of the government shutdown, none of the federal employees scheduled to address the commission this week have been able to appear. The irony hasn’t been lost on the group. When Craig Fleener, a deputy commissioner with the Department of Fish and Game, let the commission know that hunts could still take place at parks but any activity that needed paperwork couldn’t be done, the reaction was almost gleeful.
Alaska’s High Court First Supreme Court In The Nation To Hear Climate Change Case
Jeremy Hsieh, KTOO – Juneau
Alaska’s high court became the first state supreme court in the country on Thursday to hear an appeal in one of more than a dozen climate change lawsuits.
The lawsuits pit young people against their states. The plaintiffs claim the state has an obligation to protect the atmosphere from excessive carbon emissions.
State Orders Review Of Fairbanks 4 Case
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
The State of Alaska has ordered a review of the Fairbanks Four case. The Department of Law announced the move on Thursday, saying new information in the 1997 murder of John Hartman led to the decision.
Last week the Alaska Innocence Project filed requests for post conviction relief for Kevin Pease, Marvin Roberts, Eugene Vent and George Frese, the Fairbanks men convicted of, and now serving long prison terms for the attack on Hartman.
The applications include a letter from a former Fairbanks resident serving life in prison for other murders, who claims a different group of men carried out the attack.
The State announcement says there has been no credible allegation about the integrity of the original investigation. It says the Alaska law enforcement agencies, including State Troopers and Fairbanks Police are in support of the review.
The state is requesting additional time beyond the 45 days it has under law, to conduct the review and respond to the requests for post conviction relief.
Small Explosion Detected At Cleveland Volcano
Mike Mason, KDLG – Dillingham
A piece of equipment installed a few years ago near Dillingham has helped detect a small explosive event at the far away Cleveland Volcano in the Aleutian Islands.
Longtime Pilot, Adventurer Shares Experiences In New Book
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
The list of Alaskans with notable adventures is long, but Lowell Thomas Junior’s accomplishments are impressive by any standard. A former 12-year State Senator and Lieutenant Governor, an author, filmmaker and world traveler who visited the Dalai Lama and desert nomads, Thomas has logged more than 10,000 hours flying, much of it in a single-engine airplane with his wife. Tay. as his navigator. A new book co-authored with Lew Freedman chronicles Lowell Thomas Junior’s amazing life and is out now, just a few days before his 90th birthday. Lowell and Tay tell us with so many adventures, it’s tough to pick a highlight.
AK: Museum Moving
Lisa Phu, KTOO – Juneau
Construction workers in Juneau are building a new State Library Archives Museum.
And inside the old building, A small team of museum staff and volunteers are preparing to move. They’re packing up the entire collection – ranging from a 45-foot umiak to half-inch-tall ivory pieces.
Only five percent of the museum’s collection is displayed at any given time. The rest is stored in the basement.
So KTOO’s Lisa Phu took a tour of the museum basement to find out what it takes to move a museum.
300 Villages: Coffman Cove
This week on AK, we’re heading to the small community of Coffman Cove on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast. Carolyn Duncan is the mayor of Coffman Cove.
